by LAWRENCE, Kan. – Vying to knock off the Longhorns for the first time since 2003, the Jayhawks kicked into gear in the third set but not in time to shake off the two-set deficit already stacked against them. The No. 2 Texas Longhorns entered a sold-out Horejsi Family Athletics Center on Sunday afternoon and defeated Kansas in four sets, 14-25, 20-25, 25-20, 21-25.
Junior outside hitter Tiana Dockery (Navajo) posted double-digit kills (12) for the second-straight match.
Texas opened the second set by scoring the first two points, but it was Kansas who made the first big run. Payne, Dockery and Albers blasted a sequence of kills to spark a 4-0 rally. Both squads went back-and-forth, trading points until a 5-0 Texas run lifted the Longhorns to a 14-10 lead and forced KU to burn a timeout. After the stoppage, Albers blasted a pair of kills, freshman defensive specialist Addison Barry aced a serve and Dockery blocked a shot, electrifying the packed building by tying the score, 14-14, and forcing Texas to call timeout. The Jayhawks were unable to sustain momentum, as four-straight Texas points provided a comfortable 22-17 cushion and eventually the 25-20 win.
After the intermission, Texas notched the first point of the set, but the Jayhawks maintained control at 10-8. When Barry aced her second serve of the match, Kansas turned up the intensity. Albers and Dockery each notched a pair of kills and forced Texas into using its last time out, trailing 16-10. Moments later, KU broke away from the Longhorns with a trio of kills from Albers, Havili and McClinton, pushing the lead to eight, 20-12. Texas slowly fought back, but Albers slammed the door shut with a final kill, giving Kansas the set, 25-20.
With momentum riding on Kansas’ side, Havili brought the Horejsi crowd to its feet by serving back-to-back aces to open the fourth set. KU kept coming with consecutive blocks from Albers, Payne and McClinton, fueling Kansas to a quick 4-0 advantage. Texas flexed, battling its way back to regain the lead with six-consecutive points. KU then countered with four of the next five, cutting the lead down to one, 15-14, but Texas halted any chance for KU to bring the match into the decisive fifth set. The Longhorns buckled down to take the set, 25-21.
